Speaker of US House meets with Taiwan President, China protests - Will US-China relations be affected?

The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, prompting an outcry from China. The meeting took place in Taipei, where Pelosi was visiting to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.

In a joint statement, Pelosi and Tsai reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and pledged to work together on issues such as climate change, economic cooperation, and global health. Pelosi also praised Taiwan's "commitment to democracy and human rights" and expressed her hope that Taiwan would one day join international organizations such as the World Health Organization.

China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, lodged a formal protest over the meeting. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that "the U.S. should abide by the One China principle and the provisions of the Three Joint Communiques," and warned that the meeting could "seriously undermine China-U.S. relations."

The meeting comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and China over issues such as trade, human rights, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The U.S. has also been stepping up its support for Taiwan, including by approving a $750 million arms sale to the island last year.